Self-soaping device for washboards.



W. N. THOMAS. SELF SOAPINGI DEVICE FOR WASHBOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28. 1910.

Patented mvim, 1911.

lUiZZiam M Roma "s.

COLUMBIA PLANGRAPH CO4, WASHINGTON. 1). c4

WILLIAIVLN. THOMAS, OF LIBERTY, MISSOURI.

SELF-SOAPING DEVICE FOR WASHBOARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1910.

Patented Nov. 21,1911. Serial No. 599,751,

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Liberty, in the county of Clay and State of Missouri, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Self- Soaping Devices forWashboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in self soaping devices for washboards and the object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein the soap may be readily and quickly positioned withina suitable housing, means being provided within the said housing forshaving a certain amount of the soap and delivering the same to theboard as the washing is reciprocated over the board.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription progresses, the invention resides in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central verticalsectional view of the same.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates the board. Thisboard 1 has its body portion constructed in the usual manner, comprisingthe side stiles 2,

bottom stile 3 and top stile 4. The board is formed with anon-corrugated back 6 and a corrugated front 5. The upper portion of theback 6 as well as the front 5 is provided with a transversely arrangedstrip or stile 8 and positioned directly above the said stile is what Iterm the housing 9. This housing 9 is formed of a front 10 preferablyconstructed of metal and the said housing has its rear portion 11 formedwith an opening which is adapted to be normally closed through themedium of a hinged door 12. This door 12 is formed with a bulging orsemicylindrical enlargement 13 directly above its hinge 14 and the door12 is normally closed through the medium of a suitable catch 15.

Positioned within the housing 9 and arranged transversely of the stiles2 is a corrugated roller 16. This roller 16 is mounted upon suitabletrunnions and preferably has one of these trunnions extending beyond oneof the stiles 2 and provided with a toothed wheel 17 the latter beingprovided with a suitable pawl 18 and the said toothed wheel and pawl areadapted to prevent the backward movement of the roller 16.

The numeral 19 designates what I term the follower of the device.- Thisfollower is adapted to be inserted through the opening 20 formed in thetop stile 4 and the said follower has its vertical edges cut away asuitable distance to provide for the reception of a helical spring 21.This spring 21 is adapted to force the follower downwardly toward thetoothed or corrugated wheel 16 and the follower is adapted to contact abar of soap 22 which is positioned upon the to 3 of the wheel 16 throughthe opening close by the door 12. The front 10 has its lower extremityformed with a plurality of openings 23 and the said openings aline withthe bar of soap 22 so that the water within which the clothes are placedwill be delivered to the soap during the process of rubbing.

It will be apparent that when the clothes are moved in a downwarddirection upon the board the same will contact with the ticles of thesoap and deliver the same to the goods being washed, so that thecorrugated face 5 is amply supplied with the saponaceous fluid.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be noted that I have provided a simple and effectivedevice for the purpose intended and it is to be further understood thatminor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim maybe resorted to if desired, Without departing from or sacrificing thespirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, is

The herein described construction of wash boards having a stripextending transversely of its side stiles and forming the top of therubbing surface, the portion above the strip comprising a housing, thetop stile being provided with a longitudinally extending opening whichterminates adjacent the inner face of the side stiles of the housing, acorrugated roller arranged directly above the strip within the housing,the front of the board having an opening for the forward face of thecorrugated roller, the portion of teeth of the roller 16 and therebyshave parthe face above the said cut away portion being provided with aplurality of spaced openings, a follower member comprising a boardadapted to be inserted through the opening of the top stile and withinthe housing, resilient means for forcing the follower toward thecorrugated roller, and the rear face of the housing being provided witha floor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 10 In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM N. THOMAS. Witnesses:

CHARLEY HINEs, BRAOK THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eachyby addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

